GOD IS GOOD AND HE IS ALSO SEVERE

 

Romans 11:22

 

"Note then the kindness and the severity of God: severity toward those who have fallen, but God's kindness to you, provided you continue in his kindness. Otherwise you too will be cut off." ESV

 

The love of God is boundless and glorious. Do we really understand that the severity of God is just as real as His kindness. We will bask in His love for eternity if we continue walking in His love. We will become well acquainted with His severity if we fall away from His love and light.

 

Heavenly Father, how we praise You for Your boundless love that resulted in our salvation. Help us to understand that there is a severe part of You that cuts off those who refuse to believe. Give us wisdom to accept that there will be some who will not enter the gates of heaven. We pray in Jesus' name, Amen.

 

©2008-2013

Daily Grace

Bobbi Craigmyle, Psy.D., BCPCC

 

http://insidetheshrink-dailygrace.blogspot.com/

 

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NO REVOLVING DOORS HERE

 

Isaiah 22:22

See Revelation 3:7

 

"And I will place on his shoulder the key of the house of David. He shall open, and non shall shut; and he will shut, and non shall open." ESV

 

"And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: 'The words of the holy one, the true one, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, who shuts and no one opens.'" ESV

 

We have all heard the saying, "When God closes a door, He always opens a window." This saying is not in the Word of God and if we believe it to be true, we can set ourselves up for great disappointment. We may get a false hope that we will get what we want one way or another. There may not be another door or another window. We might be just where God wants us. When we realize that God is in control, we can accept closed doors and know that they are for our own good, and for His glory.

 

Heavenly Father, we are such weak souls that we want to believe all our wants will happen after You have shut the door. We somehow keep thinking You will open another door. Sometimes You may do that, if it is in Your plan. Help us to accept closed doors with grace and if You open another door, to accept it with thanksgiving. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen.

 

©2008-2013

Daily Grace

Bobbi Craigmyle, Psy.D., BCPCC

 

http://insidetheshrink-dailygrace.blogspot.com/

 

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WISDOM AND CONTROL ARE BROTHERS

 

 

Proverbs 19:11

 

"Good sense makes one slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook an offense." ESV

 

Good sense is applying knowledge in an insightful, true, and discerning way. Using good sense, wisdom, when we are being criticized or belittled by others causes us to endure with peace and confidence that is working out His plan. We can let many disturbing offenses roll off our backs. God is pleased with that.

 

Heavenly Father, so often we have failed to use right thinking, the wisdom, You have given us when we are in an angering situation. Forgive us, Lord. Help us to use wisdom and to just let offenses roll of our backs. We pray in the name of Jesus, Amen.

 

©2008-2013

Daily Grace

Bobbi Craigmyle, Psy.D., BCPCC

 

http://insidetheshrink-dailygrace.blogspot.com/

 

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NO PAYBACKS?

 

 

1 Peter 3:9

 

"Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing." ESV

 

Retaliation! Revenge! Get even! This is the same as trying to put out a fire with a blow torch or cleaning the mud off your feet by walking through a mud pit. All pointless wastes of time that only escalate evil. Overcoming evil with good is easier said than done, but we can choose to do it out of love for the Lord. Blessing are waiting for those who choose to crush evil with good.

 

Heavenly Father, please forgive us for all the times we return insult for insult, criticism or criticism. Fill us with Your Holy Spirit so that we will be ready to always return good for evil. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen.

 

©2008-2013 Daily Grace Bobbi Craigmyle, Psy.D., BCPCC   http://insidetheshrink-dailygrace.blogspot.com/   No Copyright Infringement Intended Personal Use Only

PIGS AND PEARLS

 

 

Matthew 7:6

 

"Do not give dogs what is holy, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, lest they trample them underfoot and turn to attack you." ESV

 

The sacred message of the Gospel spoken of throughout the Word of God, is precious and totally worthy of reverence and respect. It is our responsibility as Christians to handle this precious pearl of Christ with discernment and wisdom. Jesus told us to refrain from giving this message out to those who are so hardened in their hearts that they will ridicule and stomp on the blessed Truth. These people have willingly and permanently rejected God. They are reprobate.

 

Heavenly Father, we are humbled and we tremble at the responsibility You have given us to handle the Word of Truth rightly. It is hard for us to understand that there are those who have truly rejected You and You Word. Give us boldness and Holy Spirit led ability to speak the Gospel everywhere. We trust You will put a check in our hearts if we are in the presence of one who has already permanently rejected the Truth. We pray in Jesus' name, Amen.

 

©2008-2013

Daily Grace

Bobbi Craigmyle, Psy.D., BCPCC

 

http://insidetheshrink-dailygrace.blogspot.com/

 

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A CROWN FOR PASSING THE TEST

James 1:12

 

 

 

"Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him." ESV

 

It's getting harder and harder to stay strong and to cope with the trials and temptations we face today. When we know the final outcome of everything we go through, although we may not know the purpose, we will have the strength and understanding to face whatever trial comes our way.

 

Heavenly Father, how we thank You for Your mighty promise to us that we will receive the crown of life if we endure to the end. Forgive us for our weaknesses and complaining when things are going badly and we see no purpose in them. You know the reasons and You have promised us the crown of life if we stay strong. That's all we need to know. We pray this in the name of Jesus, Amen.

 

©2008-2013

Daily Grace

Bobbi Craigmyle, Psy.D., BCPCC

 

http://insidetheshrink-dailygrace.blogspot.com/

 

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WHO'S THAT PLAYING IN THE MUD?

 

2 Peter 2:22

 

"What the true proverb says has happened to them: 'The dog returns to its own vomit, and the sow, after washing herself, returns to wallow in the mire.'" ESV

 

There are those who ask God for His saving grace to cleanse them from their filthy, hopeless, and sinful lives. In thankfulness and changed hearts, they live close to their Lord and allow Him to keep their lives washed and clean. Then there are those who have been cleansed by Christ's blood who do not live close to the Lord and do not give everything to Him. As a result, their remaining human nature draws them back to the same sinful life and depravity they were in before. To live a victorious life with Christ, we will allow God to have all of our being, all of our lives. And our natures will become like His. If we don't give God our all, our human natures will take us back to where we started.

 

Heavenly Father, search our hearts to see if there is any part of the old self that we still keep and don't seem to be able to release. Draw us to the Word and fill us with a hunger to be more like Christ. As we turn all things left over from the old nature, fill us with Your Spirit and help us to live clean and holy in Your sight. In the name of Jesus Christ we pray, Amen.

 

©2008-2013

Daily Grace

Bobbi Craigmyle, Psy.D., BCPCC

 

http://insidetheshrink-dailygrace.blogspot.com/

 

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If you don't give God your all, your human nature will take you back to

where you started.

 

Read 2 Peter 2:22

TALK ABOUT EXPENSIVE!

 

 

Romans 3:23-25

 

"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith." ESV

 

When we accept the free gift of salvation, often times we forget its extremely expensive cost. Who paid the bill for this most eloquent and elaborate gift? It was paid in full by the God who loves us that much, by the perfect Son who was willingly tortured and shed His blood for us, and by the Holy Spirit who leads us to Him. All free to us, costing our Lord everything. How can it be that difficult to give back to Him everything we are, everything we have? It all belongs to Him anyway.

 

Heavenly Father, how narrow our sight gets when we keep looking at all the things we have and all the things we want. Forgive us when we take Your lavish gift of salvation for granted. Forgive us for holding on to earthly things dear to us when You withheld nothing. Search our hearts and do the work necessary to give us the willingness to turn everything over to You. We pray in the name of Jesus, Amen.

©2008-2013

Daily Grace

Bobbi Craigmyle, Psy.D., BCPCC

 

http://insidetheshrink-dailygrace.blogspot.com/

 

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GUIDE FOR THE BLIND

 

 

John 16:13

 

 

"When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come." ESV

 

 

When we get tired of stumbling around trying to be good enough, attempting to do things on our own, we can give the control we thought we had to the Holy Spirit. He quietly and patiently waits for us to allow Him to show us how to live, how to speak, how to think, and which way to go. We can fully trust the Holy Spirit to lead us into the Truth, the way to total internal peace in this world, and an unfathomable life eternally with our Lord.

 

Heavenly Father, how we praise You and thank You for sending the Holy Spirit to us as our guide, our comforter, our power to run this race with boldness and confidence. Forgive us for trying to live by our own thoughts and emotions. We fall so short. Help us to turn complete control over to the Holy Spirit, who will give us sight and guide us to the Truth. In the name of Jesus Christ we pray, Amen.

 

 

©2008-2013

Daily Grace

Bobbi Craigmyle, Psy.D., BCPCC

 

http://insidetheshrink-dailygrace.blogspot.com/

 

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WORKING BEHIND THE SCENES

 

Philippians 1:6

 

 

"And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Christ Jesus." ESV

 

 

God works in us many times and in many ways. Sometimes it is at an unconscious level. We aren't aware at all that He has touched us until we experience it or see it in our daily lives. We think differently and respond differently than we normally had done. No need to question what has happened. The Lord has done a work down deep in our souls.

 

 

Heavenly Father, we fully confess that we need a deep work in our souls to bring us more into Your light and Your image. We open our hearts, our minds, and our emotions to allow You to do the deep work within us that You long to do. We thank You for it and ask it in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, Amen.

©2008-2013

Daily Grace

Bobbi Craigmyle, Psy.D., BCPCC

 

http://insidetheshrink-dailygrace.blogspot.com/

 

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IT'S GETTING COLD OUT THERE

 

 

Matthew 24:12,13

 

"And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved." ESV

 

The evil and deception that is present in these last days will have a profound effect on lukewarm and weak Christians. They will fear dying and will be deceived by false teachers. They will compromise their love for God and let it fade. Those who stand strong and remain faithful to the very end have no reason to worry. Their eternity is secure.

 

Heavenly Father, this world is getting such that at times we are not sure if it is Your voice we hear or a voice we really want to hear instead. Give us the Spirit of Truth, and help us to accept the power and endurance You so freely offer us to stay strong. We pray in the name of Jesus, Amen.

 

©2008-2013

Daily Grace

Bobbi Craigmyle, Psy.D., BCPCC

 

http://insidetheshrink-dailygrace.blogspot.com/

 

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SEEK AND FIND WORKS EVERY TIME

 

 

Jeremiah 29:13

 

"You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart." ESV

 

God always remembers. He knows how quickly we forget. So he sends us reminders every day of His love and grace. When we stop looking for even the small signs of His love and grace, we have stepped away from Him. We have gotten caught up with the problems of life. He is going to show us His great love every day. If we look for it, we will find it.

 

 

Heavenly Father, we praise and glorify You for Your endless love and grace. Forgive us for getting so distracted by things in this world that we look right past the most wonderful blessings You have prepared for us each day. Open our eyes and our hearts so that we will seek You fully. In Jesus' name, Amen.

 

 

©2008-2013

Daily Grace

Bobbi Craigmyle, Psy.D., BCPCC

 

http://insidetheshrink-dailygrace.blogspot.com/

 

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WE CAN DO THIS

 

1 Peter 1:6,7

 

"In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith--more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire--may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ." ESV

 

How can anyone be joyful when they are going through suffering, pain, and despair. We can do it. We know that trials and suffering will purify our faith and make us strong in the Lord. He will honor and reward us who remain faithful through the trials and suffering of this life. And He will welcome us with open arms. Knowing this gives us that deep joy of the Lord that this world cannot touch.

 

Heavenly Father, You know we are weak, but You know that we have the gift of faith to believe that we will suffer in this life, but You will reward us if we persevere and stand strong. Put within our hearts, the commitment to stand strong and endure because this life is temporary. We pray in Jesus' name, Amen.

 

©2008-2013

Daily Grace

Bobbi Craigmyle, Psy.D., BCPCC

 

http://insidetheshrink-dailygrace.blogspot.com/

 

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THE DEVIL DIDN'T MAKE US DO IT

 

 

James 1:13,14

 

"Let no one say when he is tempted, 'I am being tempted by God,' for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire." ESV

 

It seems we have this natural inclination to make excuses for our wrongdoings. We may even go so far as to blame God for not intervening or for allowing us to get into such a situation. The truth is, we sin because we get subtly enticed and deceived; then we convince ourselves it won't hurt just this once. To keep this from happening, the Word tells us to walk in the Holy Spirit so we won't give in to our natural desires.

 

Heavenly Father, forgive us for allowing our own desires to allow deception and false satisfaction to draw us into sin. Give us discernment and awareness of the tactics the enemy uses to draw us away from You. Help us to be holy as You are holy. We pray in the name of Jesus, Amen.

 

©2008-2013

Daily Grace

Bobbi Craigmyle, Psy.D., BCPCC

 

http://insidetheshrink-dailygrace.blogspot.com/

 

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IT'S NOT OUR PROBLEM

2 Chronicles 20:17

 

"You will not need to fight this battle. Stand firm, hold your position, and see the salvation of the Lord on your behalf, O Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed. Tomorrow go out against them, and the Lord will be with you." ESV

 

As humans, we seem to fret and worry about how we are going to get through this trial, over this loss, or free of this bondage. As true Christians, we don't have to worry and fret at all. The Lord has told us to stop worrying and just give all of it over to Him and He will take care of it perfectly. He takes on our struggles as His own, while asking us to just trust Him to work it out for us.

 

Heavenly Father, forgive us for using so much of our time and energy worrying and fretting about things. Open our spiritual eyes to see that these things are not our battles, but Yours. Show us how to let go of them so that You can take care of them like You told us You would. We praise You for that. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen.

 

©2008-2013

Daily Grace

Bobbi Craigmyle, Psy.D., BCPCC

 

http://insidetheshrink-dailygrace.blogspot.com/

 

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SUFFER WITH HOPE?

 

 

2 Timothy 1:12

 

"Which is why I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that day what has been entrusted to me." ESV

 

The Lord told us that if we follow Him, we will suffer all kinds of problems and trials. There is no shame in this suffering, only joy in suffering for Him. The suffering is temporary. We trust that the Lord will keep all that we have given over to Him until we are with Him in eternity.

 

Heavenly Father, O how many times we forget that we are living in a cursed world, enemy territory. We are surprised that terrible and difficult things come into our lives. Help us to stay strong and remember that You will take care of us and everything we have committed to You. We pray in Jesus' name, Amen.

 

©2008-2013

Daily Grace

Bobbi Craigmyle, Psy.D., BCPCC

 

http://insidetheshrink-dailygrace.blogspot.com/

 

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WHAT WE REALLY ARE

 

 

Psalm 130:3,4

 

"If you, O Lord, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? But with you there is forgiveness, that you may be feared." ESV

 

We have a tendency to judge ourselves through our own eyes and in comparing ourselves to others. This works for us because we don't seem like such bad people. But, God sees us through His eyes, in total truth and reality. Quite a different view. If He dealt out to us what we deserve, we would be condemned and hopeless. However, He made a way for us to be forgiven , through Jesus Christ, who took what we really deserve on His own body on the cross. When we grasp this wonderful news, we can never stop honoring and thanking Him for his eternal grace and mercy.

 

Heavenly Father, forgive us for not using the right measuring system to that would reveal the truth about ourselves. Help us to stay in the Light so that we see through Your eyes and always stay on the straight and narrow path that leads us right to You. In the name of Jesus Christ we pray, Amen.

 

©2008-2013

Daily Grace

Bobbi Craigmyle, Psy.D., BCPCC

 

http://insidetheshrink-dailygrace.blogspot.com/

 

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WHO OWNS MY BODY?

 

 

1 Corinthians 6:19,20

 

"Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body." ESV

 

Are we truly Christians? If so, we no longer own our own bodies. They belong to the Lord, who purchased them with His own blood. His Holy Spirit lives in our bodies. We honor Him with our bodies in all we think, say, and do. If we don't, we will crowd out the Holy Spirit with our disobedience and self-gratification. Then we will take back from Him ownership of our bodies.

 

Heavenly Father, please forgive us for the times we have dishonored you. Cleanse us from all things that do not bring glory to Your name. Help us to stand firm in honoring You with our bodies so that we will remain Yours and not return to the old selves we once were. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen.

 

©2008-2013

Daily Grace

Bobbi Craigmyle, Psy.D., BCPCC

 

http://insidetheshrink-dailygrace.blogspot.com/

 

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NATURALLY FLOWING OUT OF US

 

 

John 7:38

 

"Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, 'Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.'" ESV

 

The living water Jesus gives to us is His Holy Spirit, the promise of eternal life. When His Spirit is living in our hearts, this living water will naturally flow out of us as we walk, speak, work and live. It cannot be contained. If it is there, it will flow out and others will notice it. Is that what people see when they are around us?

 

Heavenly Father, we pray that the living waters would flow through us unhindered by the things of this world. May every person with whom we come in contact, see the light of Christ flowing naturally from our hearts. In His name we pray, Amen.

 

©2008-2013

Daily Grace

Bobbi Craigmyle, Psy.D., BCPCC

 

http://insidetheshrink-dailygrace.blogspot.com/

 

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REFLECTIONS OF OURSELVES

 

 

Proverbs 27:19

 

"As in water face reflects face, so the heart of man reflects the man."

 

Water is like a mirror. When we lean over water and look into it, we see the exact image of our own faces. Our hearts are like a mirror too. Whatever is in our hearts will be reflected in all we say and do.

 

Heavenly Father, search our hearts and help us to commit ourselves to Your Word so that we will have Your power to remove those things from our hearts that do not bring You glory. In the name of Jesus we pray, Amen.

 

©2008-2013

Daily Grace

Bobbi Craigmyle, Psy.D., BCPCC

 

http://insidetheshrink-dailygrace.blogspot.com/

 

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SET FREE SO STAY THAT WAY

 

 

Galatians 5:1

 

"For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery." ESV

 

Before we accepted the free gift of Christ's salvation, we were slaves, captives to our own sinful nature. His sacrifice on the cross gave total freedom to "not" sin and to be able to turn our backs on our old sinful natures. Warning! It is so easy to slip back into our old ways. We don't want to go back there.

 

Heavenly Father, how we thank You and praise You for Your Son Jesus Christ, who set us free from sin by His death on the cross and His resurrection. We stand in need of Your grace as we stand firm against the temptations that would pull us back into the old life of sin. In Jesus name, Amen.

 

©2008-2013

Daily Grace

Bobbi Craigmyle, Psy.D., BCPCC

 

http://insidetheshrink-dailygrace.blogspot.com/

 

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